Welcome to your
Junior Conference!
HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL West
Counseling Center
High School Record
Review of…
 GPA
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Core (English, History, Math, Science & Foreign
Language), Unweighted, Weighted
 Graduation
Requirements
 Senior Year Program
Standardized Testing
Students must send official score reports from testing
center directly to College/University
 SAT I Reasoning Test (Critical Reading, Math & Writing)
 Score choice is NOT available
 ACT (plus writing)
 Score choice IS available
 SAT Subject Tests
 Included in SAT score report
 Only required by some schools. You are responsible for
requirements of College/University
 AP Scores
Register at collegeboard.com and ACT.org
All important websites and numbers at www. hhh.k12.ny.us
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What are you Looking
for in a school?
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Size (personal or anonymous learning)
Location (where in country and setting)
Programs of study & major/minor
Private or public
Cost/Financial & Merit Aid
Religious affiliation
Athletics (DI, DII, DIII)
Special programs (Greek life,
Organizations, Music, etc.)
How colleges choose you…
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High school academic record (GPA &
Courses)
Improvement from year to year
Standardized test scores (ACT & SAT)
Letters of recommendation
Extracurricular activities
School/Community service
Special talent
Personal interview/Essay
The college’s agenda
Things to consider
When choosing colleges to apply to
make sure you have:
 Safety,
Target and Reach schools
 Utilize the college acceptance report as
one of many resources
Research!
Where to begin?
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Visit the College Career Resources Center
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Internet
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Ruggs, Petersons, Fiske, etc.
Applications on file
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Hills West Guidance Website (www.hhh.k12.ny.us), Internet
and Naviance
Books & College Guides
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Mrs. Robak
SUNY, Suffolk/Nassau, CUNY and Common
College Representative Visit Days
COLLEGE NIGHT (May 2nd, 2007)
Read College Catalogs
Visit College Campuses
Make the most of
a college visit!
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Take a tour of the campus (call ahead for an
appointment)
Go to information sessions
Talk with students on campus
Look at the classrooms
Eat in the cafeterias
Look at the dorms and housing facilities (try to arrange
an overnight visit)
Visit the library
Check out bulletin boards and College/University
newspaper
Look at the surrounding town
Take photographs and notes during visit
Meet with the coach (if applicable and possible)
Ask a lot of questions!
Documents Students are
Responsible for
 The following must be on file in the Counseling
Center before submitting your college applications
to us. Save yourself some time and start now!
 Two teacher recommendations
 Must be from an academic teacher
 Activity Sheet (available on our Counseling Center
website)
 List of extracurricular, awards, honors, athletics etc.
during High School
 We’re positive you’ve been involved in something!
Obtaining applications
 College websites (download)
 Call or write to the colleges
 College Career Resources Center
 Common Application www.commonapp.org
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(check for supplement)
 SUNY Application www.suny.edu
 Apply online (please have your school
counselor, parent/guardian review
application before you submit it)
The Application Process
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The Counseling Center packages and mails
your application, transcript, activity sheet, and
letters of recommendation
When submitting an application (online or
paper copy) a Yellow Processing Form must
accompany it
It is the students responsibility to be aware of
college application deadlines
Applications MUST be submitted to the
Counseling Center at a minimum of two weeks
prior to the college deadline
Details, Details, and Details….
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Make copies of your application for your
own records
Make sure a check is attached to your
application
Your application should be neat and
complete before submitting to the
Counseling Center
You will have questions so please see your
school counselor to review with you prior
to submitting
Types of Applications
REMEMBER WE NEED TWO WEEKS TO PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION!
All applications must be in two weeks before college deadline!
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Early Decision (ED) is binding
– (College deadline usually 11/1 or 11/15)
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Early Decision II (ED II) is binding
– (College deadline usually 1/1 or 1/15)
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Early Action (EA)
– (College deadline usually 11/1 or 11/15)
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Restrictive Early Action is restricted to one EA
application
– (College deadline usually 11/1)
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Rolling
– Processed as it is received (earlier you apply the better)
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Regular
– (College deadline usually 1/1)
– To ensure your application is sent out before winter break please submit
to Counseling Center no later than the 1st week in December
Students are responsible for deadlines!
Release Test Scores from
SAT & ACT!
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You MUST release official scores directly to
College/University from testing companies
There is a charge per school
You may release your score at any time, but
the sooner the better because it can take 4-6
weeks to process
If you retake a test, remember to resend your
new scores
You may release scores online or via phone
Collegeboard.com & ACT.org
The College Essay
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Answer the question
Monitor the length
Follow the directions
Grammar and spelling count!
Get feedback from teachers, counselor,
parents and friends
• Make it personal – who are you?
• Be original
• Use examples
SCHOLARSHIPS
 For more resources check out our
Counseling Center website
 Scholarship Bulletin sent home
 Announcements
 College Career Resources Center
 Individual Schools
FINANCIAL AID
CSS/Profile (www.collegeboard.com)
FAFSA is available beginning January of your
senior year and is due by February 15th to
colleges (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
 Individual colleges may have an additional
financial application (Check colleges website)
 Financial Aid Night (Parents invited). Please
check school calendar for date in January
 If you do not think you will be eligible, still
apply. Financial aid encompasses grants,
loans and scholarships
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NCAA
 All Division I and II athletes must register
with the NCAA Clearinghouse
 www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
 Speak to your coach now
 It’s important you communicate interests in
athletics to your school counselor to work
together with the NCAA Clearinghouse
 Complete your athletic resume
 You may be able to complete your profile online
Thank you!
Please make sure to
contact Your School
Counselor with
questions/concerns.